Gilded Venom An Emotional WA Horse Of Year
- Sunday, 11 October 2009 01:59
In emulating his half brother Scenic Blast who took the major Australian and Victorian gongs, Gilded Venom was an emotional winner of WA's racing premier racing award.
In winning the award, sponsored by the Burswood Entertainment Complex, Gilded Venom made sure the Horse of the Year Award from every group one racing state was won by a Magic Millions graduate.
Gilded Venom, by Golden Snake, won the Group One Railway Stakes and two other major group events to clinch the award which was judged by performances on WA tracks.
Tragically the budding star succumbed to a serious knee infection in January after a career of just 20 starts and earnings of over $1 million.
Prepared during his career by part owner Steve Wallace, Gilded Venom was being prepared for an Eastern States campaign when the infection struck.
Senior part owner Neil Wholagan purchased Gilded Venom for just $22,000 from the draft of Durham Lodge at the 2005 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.
His globetrotting half brother Scenic Blast made $85,000 to the bid of trainer Dan Morton twelve months later.
Magic Millions Managing Director David Chester said he was thrilled to learn Gilded Venom was the latest graduate of his company to win a major racing award.
"Racing is about winning and we're proud of the efforts of our graduates, who are purchased for less, but win more," Chester said.
"For Magic Millions graduates to win the Horse of the Year award in every state which stages Group One events is a remarkable achievement."
"Gilded Venom joins the likes of Theseo, Phelan Ready, Rebel Raider and his half brother Scenic Blast to be honoured over the past couple of months."
The Perth Racing premiership winners Neville Parnham, William Pike and Jarrad Noske were presented with their awards at the same function last night.
Scenic Blast was honoured for his achievements of representing Western Australia with great distinction, both in Australia and overseas.
A vision package featuring Scenic Blast and his Group One winning stablemate Scenic Shot was featured during the function.
Elio Galante, a part owner of both gallopers, was presented with a memento of the pair's achievements. Both gallopers are owned and trained by West Aussies and both were bred and sold in WA.
A MAGICAL HORSE OF THE YEAR RUN
2008/09 racing season
Australian Racehorse of the Year - SCENIC BLAST
Victorian Racehorse of the Year - SCENIC BLAST
New South Wales Racehorse of the Year - THESEO
Queensland Horse of the Year - PHELAN READY
South Australian Horse of the Year - REBEL RAIDER
Western Australian Horse of the Year - GILDED VENOM
Picture - Greg Irvine
Media Release - Magic Millions
